Automatic bell-ringing device



'A- I. WOODRING.

AUTOMATIC BELL RINGING DEVICE. APPLICATION map MAR 17. 1922.

1,4Q9fi66, PatentedSept. 19, N221,

177M271 tor, .14.]. Woodrirkg, 6y

Patented Sept. l5}, i922.

naaeee clerics.

ALBERTO I. WOODRING, OF WATERLOO, IOW'A, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 NATIONAL SAFETY DEVICE COMPANY, OF WATEBLOO, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC BELL-RINGING DEVICE.

Application filed March 17, 1922.

Y '0 (ZZZ rv/r0122 it may concern Be it known that l, ALBERTO I. VVOODRING, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of lVaterloo, Blackhawk ("minty Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Bell- Ringing Devices of which the following'is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic bell-ringing devices and the ob ject of my improvement is to supply for a signal-bell or the like, mechanism operatively connected between said signal and a movable controller-element, to automatically actuate the signal when said controller-element is shifted in one direction to start a vehicle to whose motor-driven mechanism it it operatively connected.

This object I have accomplished by the means which are hereinafter described and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of my improved apparatus as operatively connected between a bell-signal and. a movable controllereleinent; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same. with parts removed or broken away; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical section of a fluid-pressure operating-valve, parts including a cam, a contact-device and an auto matic locking-device being shown in elevation, with other elements broken away.

While my invention is particularly appropriate for employment on railway locomotives, or other motor-propelled vehicles, it is obvious that it may be used in connection with any species of signalingdevice and with a controller-element, in automatically operating the signaling-device at each power-actuating movement of the controllerclcment.

The installation illustrated is that specific lo a, railway locomotive. The numeral 1 dcnotes a throttle-lever which is swingingly mounted at one end on the throttle-lever ful' crum to be manually swungupon and along the fixed quadrant 2. the latter being provided with the usual teeth on its convex edge to receive the usual-spring controlled detent on a handle pivoted to the lever.

This lever is used when swung in one direction to open the throttle-valve of the locomotive by operative connections.

The numeral denotes a cam-block, having two levels separated by a curved shoulder Serial No. 544,643.

1, the part of the lower level having a short longitudinal slot 5 to adjustingly receive a headed screw 6 inserted in a threaded socket in the lever 1, the top of the screw being flush with the top of said level, and the cam being adjustably secured thereby across the lever. Any other desired fastening means may be used instead.

Referring to said Fig. 3, the numeral 18 denotes a fluid-pressure actuated device, whose chamber is fixed upon a bracket-arm 16 about midway between the fulcrum 56 and the quadrant 2. A pair of spaced hangers 14 are secured to the base of this chamber by means of bolts 17, and on a 'pintle-bolt 13 fixed across these hangers is pivoted one end of a contact-device comprising the swinging arm 12 having on opposite sides of its outer end the abutment shoulders 11, and having a cross-pintle 10 on whose ends the upper ends of fingers 9 are pivoted abutting upon the shoulders 11 and stopped by the latter against movement in one direction. A pintle 8 connects the spaced lower ends of the fingers 9 and a roller 7 is rotatably mounted thereon to ride along and upon the cam 3 longitudinally as the latter is moved thereunder by reason of the swinging of the lever 1 to and fro. An adjusting-screw 15 is movable through a threaded opening in a cross-part of the hangers 14 to adjustably act upon the under edge of the arm 12 in keeping it positioned properly tomaintain the roller 7 to contact with said cam.-

The valve-chamber 18 contains two chambers 26 and 22,-the one above the other, and placed in occasional communication by means of a valve-port 24 in which is seated slidingly the channeled guide-part25 of a solid valve-head which is normally kept closed by the yielding pressure of a coiled spring 29 in said chamber 26. The base of the chamber 1.8 has an opening in which is seated the threaded adjustable 1)lug 20,- centrally oriheed to seat the reciprocable rod 19, the lower end of the latter riding upon the upper edge of the arm 12, and a boss on the valve 25 being alined with and contacting with the upper end of this rod.

An angular passage 32 in the Wall of said chamber 18 communicates between the cham ber 22 and a seat 38 for a ball check-valve, said seat communicating with one end of a pip 1 lea i g to the be l m r 2, which actuates the rod 53 and crank 54 of the bell 55. A pipe 35 leads from the reservoir 48 connection between a T-coupling 49 in the pipe 35 and the other pipe iil'includes a chamber 50 with stop-cock valve which may be operated manually bymeans of a crankhandle 51 when desired to ring the bell 55 independently of said ringing device.

The numeral 42 denotes an integral bracket projecting first horizontally and then downwardly from the upper part of the valve-chamber 18. In the depending part of said bracket is mounted an adjustable screw 44 with nut 43, and on the inner end of the screw is mounted a short helical. spring 41. The numeral 47 denotes a locking-arm whose upper end is positioned within a longitudinal slot 45 in said bracket and pivotally hung on a pintle 46. The chamber 18 has a horizontal cylindric opening 36 leading into the upper ch amber .26, the outer end closed by a stuffing-box or threaded plug 39 orificed to slidingly seat a plungerr0d40 whose outer end. engages the adjacent edge of the arm 47. On the inner end of the plunger-rod is secured a cupped leather part -37 serving to make a tight joint with said opening 36, and held by a nut 38. The arm 47 is positioned above the arm 12 with its lower end in contact therewith when the air-pressure inthe chamber 26 is below a determined minimum amount, to stop or prevent movement of the arm. 1.2 upwardly, when the arm 12 is in its lowered position in engagement with the shoulder 4 of the cam 3 and indicated by the dottedlines in said Fig. 3.

When the air-pressure in said chamber 26 isabovesaid determined minimum, the plunger-rod 40 is pushed outwardly to swing the arm 47 outwardly enough to clear the arm 12, compressing said spring 41., which reacts when the pressure falls below said limit to return the arm 47- to its looking position. i

VVhen the engineer swings the throttlelever (or the controller-arm of the controller of theelectric or other motor of a motor-car) in a direction to open the throttle, (or turn on the power-supply of such car), the lower part of the cam 3 passes under the roller 7 of said contact-device without actuating the latter until said roller is lifted'yieldingly in passing the shoulder 4 to be seated upon the higher level of the cam. This lifts therod 19, and the valve 25, compressing; the spring 29, permitting compressed air to pass from the chamber 26 into the chamber 22, and thence past the check-valve to the pipe 31 to operate the bell-motor 52. When the throttle-lever 1 in moving forward removes the cam 3 from under the contact-device, the

naeacee latter drops down, the spring 29 presses down the valve 25 to close it, and the bell stops ringing as soon as its momentum of inertia ceases. lVhenthe lever 1 is returned to its first position, the abrupt end of the cam 3 swings the arms S) upwardly, without op erating the contact-arm 1.2. it should be noted that because of the unavoidable lost motion in the-operative connections to the throttledever, the cam 3 will begin operat, ing the bell-signal. a short time before the throttle is opened to start the locomotive.

As the purpose of this device is that of a safety-device to warn persons that the locomotive is about to start, this preliminary ringingof the bell is effectual in giving the alarm before any person can. be injured as a result of such starting.

It is to be also observed, that as the above described locking-device functions automatically to lock the contact-device upon the cam 3, that the throttle-levercannot be moved to start the locomotive, until the engineer causes the air-pressure to be pumped up to the required amount to disengage the locking-arm 47. The locomotive cannot be started until this is done, unless in some unusual emergency or otherwise the engineer 'vice, fluid-actuated mechanism between said contact-device and said signaling-device for operating the signaling-device, and a catch normally engaging and holding said contact-device and operated by said mechanism to release the contact-device only when the mechanism is acted upon by a fluidjat or above a determined. pressure.

2. In combination, a movable controllerelement, a movable contact-device having a finger-part mounted movably thereon the movement of said finger in one direction be ing limited thereby, said COIItIOllGI GlGIHQHE being movable to and fropast said finger-f part to operate it only while passing it in one direction to cause it to change the position of said contact-device, a signaling-device, operative connections between said con tact-device and said signaling-device, and a releasable catch locking said contact-device in one position. I

3. In combination, a signaling-device, a movable contact-device, operating means separably entrained with said contact-device and with said signaling-device including a fluid pressure motor having a valve to operate the signaling device only when the contact-device is moved in one direction, and a resiliently controlled catch independently associated with said operating-means to be moved by said fluid element only when the latter is at or above a determined pressure to be held out of locking association with said operating means, or to be reactively returned to engage an element or said operating means causing said element to rigidly interlock with said contact-device, when the fluid is below said determinedpressure.

4. in combination, a movable controller-- element having a cam fixed thereon, a movable contact-device having a flngerpart pivotally mounted for limited movement in one direction, said controller-element while moving in one direction only engaging said cam with said finger-part to cause the latter to change the position of said contact-device, a source of fluid under pressure, a bell-sig nal, a motor operatively connected to said bell-signal and operable by a fluid under pressure, valve-chamber having separated receiving and} delivery chambers in communication with both said source of fluid under pressure and with said motor respectively, a resiliently-controlled valve adapted to control the passage of said fluid between the chambers, a plunger mounted in said receiving chamber, projecting therefrom into contact with said contactdevice and movable by the latter to open saidvalve, and a back-pressure check-valve in. the communication between said valve-chamber and said bell-motor.

5. In combination, a movable controllerelement; having a cam fixed thereon, a movable contact-device having a finger-part pivotally mounted thereon for limited move ment in one direction, means for adjusting the extent of movement of said contact-device, said controller-element while moving in one direction only engaging said cam with said finger-part to cause the latter to change the position of said contact-device, a source of fluid under pressure, a bellsignal a motor operatively connected to said bell-signal and operable by a fluid under pressure, a valvechamber having separated receiving and delivery chambers in communication with both said source ot fluid under prcssiu'e and with said motor respectively, a resiliently-com trolled valve adapted to control the passage of said fluid between the chambers, and a plunger mounted in said receiving chamber, projecting therefrom into contact with said contact-device and movable by the latter to open said valve.

6. In combination, a movable controllerelement having a cam fixed thereon, a movable contact-device having a finger-part pivotally mounted thereon for limited movement in one direction, means for adjusting the extent of movement of said c0ntact-device, said controller-element while moving in one direction only engaging said cam with said finger-part to cause the latter to change the position of said contact-device, a source of fluid under pressure, a bell-signal, a motor operatively connected to said bell-signal, and operable by a fluid under pressure, a valve-chamber having separated receiving and delivery chambers in communication with both said source of fluid under pressure and with said motor respectively, a resiliently-controlled valve adapted to control the passage of said fluid between the chambers, and a plunger mounted in said receiving chamber, projecting therefrom into contact with said coiitactdevice and movable by the latterl to open said valve, a swinginglymounted, arm, a plunger reciproc-ably mounted in the chamber of said valve which contains fluid under constant pressure and projecting therefrom to engage said arm to thrust it in one direction out of engagement with said locking-device while said fluid is over a determined pressure, and adjustable tensioning-means, operable upon said arm to yieldingly propel it in a directionto engage and rigidly hold said contact-device in mterlocked engagement with said controllerelement when the fluid in said valve-chamber is below said determined pressure.

7. In combination, a movable controllerelement having a cam fixed thereon, a movable contact-device having a fingerpart pivotally mounted thereonfor limited movement in one direction, means for adjusting the extent of movement of said contact-device, said controller element while moving in one direction only engaging said cam with said finger-part to cause the latter to change the position of said contact-device, a source of fluid under pressure, a bell-signal, a motor operatively connected to said bell-signal. and operable by a fluid under pressure, valve-chamber having separated receiving and delivery chambers in communication with both said source of fluid under pressure and with said motor respectively, a re silientlycontrolled valve adapted to control the passage of said fluid between the chambers, and a plunger mounted in said receiving-chamber, projecting therefrom into contact with said contact-device and movable by the latter to open said valve, a swingingly mounted arm, a plunger reciprocably mounted in the chamber of said valve which contains fluid under constant pressure and projecting therefrom to engage said arm to thrust it in one direction out of engagement with said locking-device while said fluid is over a determined pressure, adjustable ten' sioning means, operable upon said armto yieldingly propel it in a direction to engage and rio'idl hold said contact-device in intel-locked engagement with said controllen element when the fluid in said valve-chamber is below sa d determined pressure, and a manually-c introll-able valve posentioneiil in cause the latter to change the position of said contact-devlce, asource oi fluid under )ressure. a bell-sinnal a motor ODSI'ztlJlVGl connected to said bell-signal and'operabl'e by fluid under pressure, a valve-chamber having separated receiving and delivery chambersin communication With both said source or". fluid under pressure and with said motor,

' respectively, a resiliently-controlled valve adapted to control the passage of said fluid between the chambers, and a plunger mount ed said receiving chamber, projecting therefrom into contact 'ivith-said contact-device and movable by the latter to open, said valve.

9. In combination, a starting-element for initiating actuation in a driven element,'a

signaling-device, a motor for operating said signaling-device in communication with 'a supply of fluld under pressure, a valvechamber 1n said communlcation containing a valve yieldingly closing the co1nmuniea tion, and means for moving said valve to open said comnnmication including a con tact-element positioned for occasional; operative engagement with said starting-element only While the latter is in a primary stage of movement in one direction to open the valve and begin to operate said motor and signaling-device before the starting-element has initiated an actuation of: said driven element.

10. In combination, astartingelement' for initiating actuation in a driven element, a signaling-device, a motor for operating said signalingdeviw in communication With a supply of fluid under pressure, avalve- 'ehamber in said communication containing a valve yieldingly. closing; the communication, and meanslor .moving said valve to open said eommunication including a -contact-element positioned for oceasionalop'erative engagement with said starting-element only WhllG the latter is ina primary stage of movement in oneidirection to open the valve and begin to operate said motor and signaling-device before the starting element has initiated an actuation of said driven element, a movable device normally holding said contact-element in engagement With said. starting-element'to prevent operation" on": the latter, and am'ot'orin communicationwith and adapted to be actuated by said fluid supply only When the fluid is at or above a determined pressure to then-operate said movable device starting-device,

Signed at Waterloo, Iowa, this 13th day of March, 1922.

to disengage it from said ALBERT r. WOODRING. 

